Sports Report

Edd Merritt, Contributing Editor
Redhawk goalie, Reed Dousevicz from Charlotte, makes a save agains Essex. Photo by Al Frey.

Winter sports end for CVU – Alpinists claim overall title
So, you can end the season coming in at second place for men and second place for women and still win the overall state championship. This happened to CVU’s Alpine ski teams. The women finished second in their two-day event in early March, behind Mount Mansfield Union. Redhawk Becca Provost was the top individual finisher in the slalom race at Burke Mountain.

Among the men, CVU again placed second in slalom behind St. Johnsbury Academy with Briggs Francis and Charlotte’s Seth Boffa finishing among the top-ten individuals. These two runner-up finishes led the Redhawks to the overall championship in the combined slalom and giant slalom events.

Tri-captains, Shannon Louseau, Lindsey Albertelli and Juli Neeld carry state runner-up trophy from the court. Photo by Al Frey.

St. Johnsbury pulls the pedestal from under Redhawk women’s basketball
It probably had to happen sooner or later. St. Johnsbury, rated number one going into the tournament, halted the Redhawks’ five years as top team in the state, winning the Division I state tournament finals decisively, 48-33. Hilltoppers sophomore Josie Choiniere came into the game on a hot shooting streak, scoring 14 of her game-high 23 points in the first half. CVU coach Otley noted in the Burlington Free Press that St. Johnsbury had jammed the lane to the basket in their previous games, and this time the Redhawks would allow their guards to become more involved in the scoring. Apparently, the Hilltoppers picked up on that strategy and pressured the outside ball handlers. Charlotte sophomore Maryn Askew led CVU scorers with 13 points.

Over the recent years, CVU women have won 22 playoff games and were the first Vermont team to appear in eight consecutive championship contests. Coach Ute Otley looks on the team-sport nature of basketball, building depth on offense and team strength on defense. This year’s Redhawks spread their strength throughout the classes, not having to rely on the seniors. Just two of five starters were seniors – with only three seniors on the team. This bodes well for the future.

Redhawk men’s basketball makes it to the state quarterfinals
It took a four-point overtime win over South Burlington in the Division I basketball playdowns (67-63) to send CVU against Rice in the quarterfinals. Sophomore Ethan Harvey with 21 points and Charlotte junior Cole Otley with 18 led the Redhawk scorers in the win over the Wolves.

The Green Knights, ranked number 2 in the state against the Redhawks’ number 3, flipped the finish, coming from a 15-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter to squeak by CVU 62-61. Ethan Harvey again led CVU scorers with 15 points with Will Burroughs and Graham Walker hitting for 14 and 12 points respectively.